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Shareholder consultants support BP's handling of CEO Looney's sacking

Two major shareholder advisory companies have actually expressed support for the BP board's. handling of former CEO Bernard Looney's dismissal in 2015,. ahead of the British energy giant's annual general meeting this. month.

Looney suddenly stepped down last September and was formally. dismissed in December after the board concluded he had purposefully. misled it in stopping working to reveal relationships with associates.

BP in December cut more than $40 million from Looney's. prospective remuneration, with the board, led by Chairman Helge. Lund, clawing back around $2.3 million from his 2023 pay. plan.

Shares in the group, which reported $13.8 billion in earnings. in 2023, have actually underperformed rivals since September.

In a report ahead of the AGM on April 25, shareholder. advisory Glass Lewis stated it was pleased with the handling of. Looney's departure.

Having evaluated the procedures by which these decisions were. made, we believe shareholders can be reasonably pleased with. the board's reaction to this matter, and do not think even more. investor action is necessitated at this time, Glass Lewis stated. in its report.

Shareholder advisory ISS also did not raise issues.

As a basic comment, the treatment of the previous CEO's. equity awards would appear a sign of the problem having been. treated seriously, ISS stated.

BP decreased to comment. The group designated Murray. Auchincloss, who led finances under Looney, as long-term CEO in. January.

Both Glass Lewis and ISS suggested investors support all. of the board's proposed articles at the AGM, including Lund's. reappointment and the leadership's reimbursement.

(source: Reuters)